Universal credit rise lifted 400,000 children out of poverty, data shows

Experts say removal of 20-a-week boost and soaring living costs likely to push 1 million below UK breadline

About 400,000 children in the UK were lifted out of poverty during the first year of the pandemic because of the government's 6bn universal credit boost, official figures have revealed, amid warnings benefit cuts could push more than 1 million people below the breadline.

Statistics published on Thursday showed years of rising relative poverty were reversed after ministers introduced a temporary extra 20-a-week to universal credit in April 2020, together with extra housing support, furlough and other measures in response to the Covid outbreak.